The Joint Workshop in collaboration with UNICEF taking place at the CEI Headquarters will focus on the innovative UPSHIFT programme. It will bring together representatives from the Ministries of Education and/or Youth of the CEI Member States along with various experts and offices from UNICEF, including the Office for Innovation, the Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (ECARO), and UNICEF’s national offices. The UPSHIFT Programme focuses on youth empowerment by helping young people develop skills essential for the school-to-work transition.
The initiative is being implemented in ten CEI countries, i.e. Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Italy, Montenegro, Moldova, North Macedonia, Serbia and Ukraine.
The main goal of the workshop is to share best practices and experiences accumulated by the countries in the region in implementing the UPSHIFT program. The discussion will also explore ways to strengthen cooperation between the CEI and UNICEF in order to integrate UPSHIFT into national education systems and accelerate the transition of young people into the workforce.
The gathering is also part of the CEI Youth Agenda, which aims to support new learning approaches and improve educational systems, thereby contributing to youth empowerment in the region.